THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 351 



the neck of the stem, immediately below the surface of the soil, 

 are more vigorous and bear fruit in greater abundance and of better 

 quality thau those that are planted too deep, which on the contrary 

 languish and continue unproductive although planted under the satne 

 circumstances of soil and situation as the preceding. There is 

 another important point which we cannot pass over in silence. It is 

 a bad practice of pruning or mutilating the trees before planting. 

 This practice is not in any respect a rational one. How, indeed, 

 can it be expected, that a young tree can tak^ well after suffering 

 from transplanting and a change of soil ; whilst at the same time it 

 is subjected to amputations which, under the circumstances, it is 

 impossible to heal. Strictly speaking, the branches of a trans- 

 planted tree ought not to be pruned till it has taken root, till the 

 buds have pushed by the first flow of sap, or rather after the second, 

 in August or September. 



CECHMEA EULGENS. 



[HE unusual length of time during which this (Echmea 

 lasts in beauty, renders it one of the most useful 

 plants at present in cultivation. It is extremely suit- 

 able for flowering in small pots for furnishing vases in 

 rooms ; and being a somewhat striking plant, and 

 capable of bearing the confinement of a close apartment for a con- 

 siderable time without much injury, it is an excellent subject for 

 house decoration. Plants intended to form large specimens, should 

 be grown on freely the first season, getting the suckers potted early 

 in spring, putting three in a seven-inch pot, and keeping them grow- 

 ing as late in autumn as can be done without drawing or weakening 

 the foliage, and affording them sufficient pot-room, with plenty of 

 heat and moisture. In winter give no more water to the soil than 

 will suffice to prevent it from getting unhealthily dry, and let the 

 plants occupy a cool light part of the stove, in order to check and 

 mature their growth, and insure their blooming. After allowing 

 them six weeks or two months' rest, they may be placed in a bottom- 

 heat, giving the soil sufficient water to properly moisten it, and they 

 will soon be in full beauty. But it will not be advisable to remove 

 them to a cool house while in flower, as this would prevent their 

 making any growth while in that state, and the inflorescence 

 lasts so long in beauty, that this would be a considerable hindrance, 

 where large specimens are wanted without loss of time. In this 

 case, therefore, it will be better to let the plants remain in the stove, 

 placing them where they can be spared from the syringe, and as 

 much out of the way of damp as possible. When the flowering of 

 the plant is over, cut out the spikes, and remove any of the leaves 

 that may be inteifering with the young suckers; but do not cut 

 down the shoots that have flowered until this becomes necessary to 

 prevent crowding the suckers. The plants should be now repotted, 

 placing them in a warm part of the stove, and in bottom-heat if con- 



NoTember. 



